Politicians are known to be slick. Their rhetoric may be powerful and daring, but their positions often lack substance.

This year's crop of budding college politicians are no different. Elections for Undergraduate Council will be held this week, and image appears to be everything.

Several students running for office say candidates are concerned about three issues: financial accountability, improving the council's reputation and defining a balance between political activism and serving students.

To date, candidates have succeeded at defining the problems but are offering few viable solutions to implement. The reason is simple, according to at least one candidate: They are too busy campaigning.

"The actions of most council members are intended to build up their resumes, enhance their visibility around campus, and prepare them for their future careers in politics," said J.D. LaRocke '95, last year's publicity manager.

The elections, scheduled for October 7, 8 and 9, kicked off with 144 candidates turning in positions papers for 88 available seats last Friday. This is a significant increase from last year's 106 candidates.

Council officials say the increase reflects the council's increasing popularity on campus.

Says outgoing council Vice Chair Malcolm A. Heinicke '93, "I am very happy with the increase, and I believe it reflects an increase of interest in the council, along with the enthusiasm of some of last year's members."

Heinicke, who says he will run for council chair, is in charge of organizing this week's elections.

While the increase in the number of students participating in the election might be good news for the council, the body still suffers from negative publicity.

The main problem with the council is the poor reputation--or even, lack of reputation--it has among students, many candidates say.

Says Felix Cartagena '96, a first-year council hopeful, "I don't know much about the U.C. I take it that it is something similar to high school student government, and I was involved in that, so I want to be a part of this."

LaRocke said that the council must do more to define its role on campus.

"We need to reach out to the student body and information them of what exactly the U.C. is and how they can get involved through the use of campus-wide door drops and greater communication between the delegates and their constituency," said LaRocke, who plans to run council chair. "Last year's council did not do enough in that respect."

Some of last year's council members, however, argue that an image problems are common among student governments.